Marywood University is a co-educational, Catholic liberal arts university located on a 115-acre (0.47 km2) campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. Established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marywood currently enrolls more than 3,400 students in a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The university has a national arboretum with more than 100 types of trees and shrubs. Marywood's Catholic identity coupled with its mission to educate students to "live responsibility in an interdependent world" encourages students to be socially responsible agents of change.

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The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came to Scranton, Pennsylvania and established St. Cecilia's Academy in 1878 "for young ladies". Mount St. Mary's Seminary opened in 1902. Mother Cyril Conroy, superior in 1901, deliberately chose the term "seminary" (roughly equivalent to a high school in present times) to avoid the suggestion of a finishing school – which was a much more common destination at that time for older girls who could afford to continue their education – as it was intended to be "a place where young scholars dedicated themselves to serious study". The Motherhouse was co-located with the seminary. Its buildings suffered major damage during a fire in the 1970s. As a result, Scranton Preparatory School, then a boys' school, became co-educational to accommodate the girls.[2] The arch, now known as "Memorial Arch", which stood at the entrance to the seminary-cum-motherhouse still stands on the present-day campus and the former seminary's name can be seen engraved on it.

The seminary was the next time step to the Sisters' ultimate goal: to open a women's college in Scranton. Marywood College opened with 34 students and Mother Germaine O'Neil as president and treasurer. It was the fifth Catholic women's college in the United States.[3] The first batch of students graduated in 1919 with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Letters. By the 1930s, the college had diversified its curriculum, offering subjects ranging from the social sciences to pre-medicine.[4] In 1937, the Sisters turned down an invitation to merge with St. Thomas College, then under the Christian Brothers. St. Thomas later came under the administration of the Jesuits after World War II and is now the University of Scranton.[5]

The Center for Natural and Health Sciences houses several academic departments, including Mathematics, Science, Nursing and Administrative Studies.

The Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, opened in 2007, contans the Marian Chapel, Campus Ministry and Conference and Event Services.

The Fricchione Day Care Center, built in 1991, is a child development center for children of Marywood staff, faculty and students.

Immaculata Hall was built in the 1950s. It was originally called Alumnae Hall, and it was renamed to honor Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, Marywood's first dean. It houses the President's Office and the Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

The Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, completed in 2001, provides studio space and facilities for art students, including computer laboratories, dark rooms and a print-making studio.

The Learning Resources Center, opened in 1968, houses the University's main library.

The Liberal Arts Center houses many academic departments, including Religious Studies, Philosophy, Social Sciences, English and Foreign Languages. The Admissions Office is also located here.

Maria Hall, one of the original campus structures, now houses the University Development/Advancement Office.

The Media Center is home to TV Marywood and WVMW-FM 91.7.

The Center for Athletics and Wellness includes a 1,500 seat arena, a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) fitness center and other athletic facilities.

The Memorial Arch, built in 1902, originally held the inscription "Mt. St. Mary's" and marked the entrance to the original Motherhouse, which was the location of Mt. St. Mary's seminary. Even though the Motherhouse was destroyed by fire in 1971, the arch still stands as the welcoming landmark at the entrance of the campus. The statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the arch is often referred to by students as the "Electric Mary" due to its halo encircled by light bulbs. The original stone steps to the Motherhouse are behind the arch.

The Memorial Arch, built in 1902, marks the entrance to the original Motherhouse, which was the location of St. Mary's Seminary.

The Memorial Commons was built in 1975 as a memorial to the original IHM Motherhouse that burned down in 1971.

The Nazareth Student Center, built in 1964, houses the main dining room, a lounge, a game room, the university bookstore, the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development and other university offices.

The O'Neill Center for Healthy Families, built in 2002, houses academic programs and research facilities.

The Rotunda adorns Marywood's Liberal Arts Center.

The Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, built in the 1950s as Assumption Hall, was rededicated in honor of Sette LaVerghetta in 1998. It houses the Communication Arts and Music departments.

The Center for Architectural Studies, completed in fall 2009, is a state-of-the-art example of sustainable design. It is a spacious, adaptive re-use of Marywood's former gymnasium. It has two levels of studios, a woodshop, a computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory and a student lounge. It houses the region's first and only school of architecture.

The Tony Domiano Early Childhood Center, built in 2000, provides space for about 60 children in pre-school and kindergarten.

The Shields Center for Visual Arts serves Marywood's art students. It has laboratory space for the graphic design, art history and art therapy programs. It also houses three art galleries: Mahady Gallery, Suraci Gallery and Maslow Study Gallery.

The McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, renovated in 1998, was previously known as the Center for Human Services. It houses the Reap College of Education and Human Development and the Counseling/Student Development Center.

Loughran Hall is a residence hall for freshman students only and accommodates up to 324. Room doors are secured through a card access system and a staffed security desk is located on the terrace level of the building. There are ADA compliant rooms which are handicap accessible. Laundry rooms, study rooms, TV rooms and public use microwaves are located on several floors. This building is connected to the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life.

Madonna Hall is an upperclassmen residence hall with co-educational floors. Room doors are secured through a card access system and a staffed security desk is located on the first floor of the building. There are ADA compliant rooms which are handicap accessible. Laundry rooms are located on each floor of the building. Study areas are located on multiple floors. Madonna Hall has a professional kitchen and a small movie theatre for resident use.

Regina Hall, originally named O'Reilly Hall, was the first student residence built at Marywood in the late 1920s. After the Motherhouse was destroyed by fire in 1971, the area that had once been the formal dining room was converted for use as a chapel. The chapel was then converted to what is now the Liguori Center. Regina Hall is still a residence hall today.

Immaculata Hall, originally built in the 1950s and named Alumnae Hall, was later renamed Immaculata Hall to honor Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, Marywood's first dean. Immaculata has two floors of single-room dorms for resident students.

Emmanuel Hall provides specialty housing for 25 upperclass students in primarily 4-person rooms. The residence includes a kitchen and large common area.

Perpetual Help Hall houses up to 14 male resident students. A washer and dryer are located on the ground floor of the house. A kitchen, study area and living room are located on the first floor.

McCarty Hall, dedicated in November 1941, was once used as a practice house for students majoring in vocational home economics. Today it is an all-female residence house.

Bethany Hall houses eight female resident students. A kitchen and a study area/living room are located on both the first and second floors of the house. A laundry room is located on the ground floor of the house.

The Woodland Residences provide apartment-style living for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Each unit houses between four and ten upperclass students.

Marywood University was declared an arboretum in 1975 in honor of Sister Maria Laurence Maher, then Professor of Biological Sciences, and received its official designation as such in 1997. It now contains 42 species of trees (103 varieties) and a comparable collection of shrubs, ornamental grasses and flowers.[10]